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Aya stood in front of the school, feeling small. What.... what was she even [i]doing[/i] here? Aya was already regretting this half-baked idea. In her desperation to leave her island and without any other viable options, she'd picked the Ashford Institute. Mutant school. The plan had been to take the year to get her grades good enough for a scholarship at a decent mainland college, get a handle on her powers so she [i]never had to use them again[/i], and then carry on with her life like nothing ever happened.

Regret and unease mixed into a queasy sensation that traveled through her body. This was a terrible idea. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to go to school with mutants or train or go through high school [i]again[/i], especially if she'd already missed the first week of classes.

The wrought iron fence loomed in front of her, cutting lines through her vision like prison bars. 

Nope.

Aya's fingers tightened around the handle of her suitcase. She'd get back in her cab, find some motel to spend the night in, and call the school saying thank you very much but it's just not a right fit. She squeezed her eyes shut, taking in a slow breath. It didn't feel right leaving so unceremoniously. But she'd technically never really been a student anyway, so it was fine, right? Aya clenched her jaw, steeling herself. Then she opened her eyes, and spun on her heel to walk back towards the --

The car was gone.

Aya dropped her head back, looking to the sky. A small, sound (that was definitely [i]not[/i] a whine) escaped her throat. She'd have to call another cab. Who knew how long [i]that[/i] would take? And then she'd be stuck standing out in the hot Southern California sun, awkwardly existing with a suitcase and looking to all the world like a mutant running away from mutant school as she waited for a cab to get lost at least three different times as they tried to find the one section of LA that seemed to be in the middle of [i]nowhere[/i].

[i]God[/i], but she missed humidity. And clouds.

If she waited out here, someone was going to see her. Someone might [i]talk[/i] to her. And then she'd have to awkwardly explain that she wasn't a student, but she [i]was[/i] and now she was chickening out. 

Aya closed her eyes again, face still pointed towards the sky. A light breeze brushed past her, tugging at the strands of her dark hair. 

She was fine. She'd just... call the cab, head inside, go talk to the headmaster or dean or whoever, explain that she wasn't going to be enrolling after all, and then be back out to meet the cab when it arrived. Activity was good. Activity made you look like you belonged. No one would question her if she just looked like she had things to do and places to go to. 

Aya opened her eyes and pulled out her phone. With a few quick taps, a request was put into her ride sharing app. She forced herself to turn back towards the school. She glanced again at her phone. [i]Searching for drivers[/i]... Aya sighed.

Then she put one foot in front of the other and walked through the gates, suitcase rolling behind her.

[i]Searching...[/i]

Aya watched as the school became bigger and bigger, growing closer with each step. She tried to ignore the students around her. It seemed that classes had been released for the day.

She reached the front door of the school. Aya looked down at her phone again.

[i]Sorry, no drivers found. Please try again.[/i]

[i][color=aquamarine]Of course.[/color][/i]

She slipped the phone into her pocket. She'd just call it later. Aya pressed her lips into a thin line and pushed open the (obnoxiously heavy) door. She stumbled when the wood finally gave way and fought to right herself before anyone could see. Aya looked around, trying to not pay attention to the grandeur of the school now that she was inside to see it. Of course, the fact that it was called Ashford [i]Manor[/i] probably should've been her first hint that it'd be so fancy.

Her eyes fell on the sign that read [i]Offices[/i], leading down a hall. Remembering her mission, Aya moved towards it, pulling her suitcase along. She passed by doors and names, searching for one that sounded promising.

[i]Professor Kaylee Everose: Educational Director[/i]

Bingo. 

Aya stopped in front of the door. She straightened her hair a bit and fiddled with her clothes. She didn't know why she was trying to make herself presentable when she was just going to leave. Maybe it was the embarrassment that she was having this conversation at all that made her want to try and compensate. 

Taking a steadying breath, Aya put her hand on the doorknob.

[i]No[/i], no, wait that was rude. She couldn't just barge in. Aya lifted her hand to give a few light knocks on the door. She waited a moment. Then she turned the doorknob slowly, as if by making as little noise as possible she could make this somehow less awkward. Aya opened the door just enough to slip her head in.

[color=aquamarine]"Professor Everose?"[/color] she said in a tentative voice. [color=aquamarine]"I'm sorry, but are you available to speak?"[/color]